“Truly he taught us to love one another. His law is love, and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.”
Recently my 92-year-old grandmother, Barbara Childers, passed away. Grandma Barb had a deep understanding of how much she was loved by Jesus. Because of this, she loved others fiercely. She was known to text family and friends all over the country with messages of encouragement and specific prayers. She went out of her way to check in on people who had lost loved ones to remind them that they were both seen and loved. She was quick to smile and never missed an opportunity to encourage. Her presence, prayers, and love have had an eternal impact on my life and so many others.
Grandma Barb also loved music, and I learned so many songs from her – especially Christmas songs. These songs have a special place in my childhood memories because they would be playing in the background when our family would gather every Christmas Eve for a meal, a reading from the second chapter of Luke, and then we would each get to open one present. My family still keeps most of these traditions.
Oh, Holy Night is one of the songs that I learned as a child. It is both heavy and beautiful. The song draws from Jesus’ first public sermon, recorded in Luke 4:16-30. Jesus reads from the Isaiah scroll about being anointed to preach good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners and those who are oppressed, sight for the blind, and announcing the year of the Lord’s favor. Then he said, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (v.21) In other words, I am here to do these things. Everything is about to change.
As I think about this song and these words of Jesus, I continue to be amazed that the Creator of all things would choose to become one of us. As another Christmas song puts it, Jesus was “God, in flesh, appearing.” Jesus went out of his way to reveal a God of love, peace, freedom and justice. Jesus has captured the hearts and minds of millions around the world, including my Grandma Barb, who took what she knew about God in flesh and lived a life marked by love, peace, prayer, and encouragement.
My prayer for everyone reading these words is that you will be captivated by Jesus in this season where we celebrate his birth. Would we all have the courage to live each day we are given as instruments of love, peace, prayer, and justice for one another, and with one another.
Merry Christmas!
Kyle Dickinson
Executive Director
Year End Matching Challenge Campaign
In the month of October, I had the privilege of connecting with several faithful and generous supporters of the work and ministry of the Salem Leadership Foundation. I love having these meetings because I get to learn about people’s passion for our community and where they feel called to bless others. Being a part of someone’s journey of generosity always feels like sacred ground. I am so grateful for this.
I am excited to report that this group of people have committed $60,000 as a matching challenge to encourage you to support SLF’s work to make Salem/Keizer the healthiest community in all of Oregon. With your support we can meet our Year End Matching Challenge Campaign goal of $120,000. All donations will support SLF’s work of building connections in neighborhoods and capacity in nonprofits! You can donate online using the QR code below, or you can mail in your donation with the form below and the enclosed envelope.
We can also receive gifts of appreciated stock. For many of you, this is great time to consider this method of giving. Please email SLF’s Director of Business Operations, Laurie Case (laurie@salemlf.org) and we can facilitate this transaction.
Thank you for supporting SLF!